E
EQUINE
Equine refers to horses or members of the horse family.
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Did you know the Equus genus also includes donkeys and zebras?
a
ASSISTED
Each session involves at least 3 pairs of hands to help, aid and support.
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Did you know all our therapists are specially trained for hippotherapy?
A
ACTIVITIES
Our activities revolve primarily around the horse and its environment, and focus on specific target areas of the child.
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Did you know we run a syllabus-based programme with regular progress assessments?
T
THERAPY
We aim to provide a form of therapy that is fun, safe and empowering for our children.
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Did you know hippotherapy is a medical therapy, with scientific basis, that involves the use of horses as a treatment tool?
Key Terminology:
Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT)
The umbrella term for all equine-related programmes is Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT). Services are organised into non-therapy “activities” (EAA) such as adaptive riding or equine assisted learning, while “therapy” (EAT) activities involve the use of horses in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, or mental health services provided by qualified professionals.
Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAT)
Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAT) is an overall term that broadly refers to all forms of therapy or treatment which involve activities with horses and other equines to enhance physical and mental health in humans. EAT encompasses equine-assisted mental health (aka equine-assisted psychotherapy), equine-assisted physical therapy, equine-assisted occupational therapy, and equine-assisted speech therapy. These services are provided by trained and credentialed healthcare professionals, and regulated by healthcare laws.
Equine-Assisted Activities (EAA)
Equine-Assisted Activities (EAA) are services provided by a non-credentialed professional that utilises the therapeutic benefits of being around horses to enhance non-clinical activities. Facilitators are not regulated by a state board and are not required to have a degree in their field.
What Is Hippotherapy?
Hippotherapy is a medical treatment option that involves the use of a specially trained therapy horse as a treatment tool. Trained and qualified physical, occupational and speech therapists are the only professionals allowed to conduct hippotherapy in order to ensure that it is a safe and valid medical treatment. The purpose of hippotherapy is to engage the sensory, neuromotor and cognitive systems of your child by incorporating equine movement into their treatment plans.
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Treatment planning uses evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning, integrating best available research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values. Because the rehabilitation sessions are carried out in an equestrian arena instead of a treatment room, the child’s senses are stimulated which is a key component for brain development. Hippotherapy sessions are carried out while maintaining all treatment protocols and requirements required in a conventional setting to ensure the child is in a stimulating environment without compromising the safety of the child.
What Is Adaptive Riding?
Adaptive riding is an equine-assisted activity for disabled individuals, carried out with the purpose of enhancing physical, emotional, social, cognitive, behavioural and educational skills while also fostering the relationship between your child and the horse.
Your child makes use of the natural rhythmic movement of the horse to engage muscles, which mimic the normal walking gait of a human, in order to improve areas of flexibility, balance and muscle strength. On top of the therapeutic benefits, horseriding also provides recreational opportunities for disabled individuals to experience the outdoors.
Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL)
Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) is the use of equine-assisted activities to promote the development of life skills for educational, professional and personal goals using a more experience-based approach. A guided equine-human interaction learning experience is planned with identified goals and desires of your child in mind. The use of horses provides many opportunities to introduce life skills such as trust, communication, respect and honesty.
As the communication between horses and humans is largely non-verbal, this can help your child better understand how non-verbal communication might affect those around them. Through interactions with horses, your child can gain self-esteem and self-confidence as well as a heightened sense of self-awareness, all critical elements to support self-growth.